Beijing-based artificial intelligence startup ModelBest Inc. and China Telecom AI Technology Co., Ltd. have executed a strategic partnership agreement in Beijing to jointly build cloud-edge AI solutions, accelerating the deployment of on-device intelligence across consumer hardware and industrial sectors.
Under the agreement signed by ModelBest President Lei Shengtao and China Telecom AI Deputy General Manager Yang Ge, the two entities will integrate China Telecom’s nationwide cloud infrastructure and distribution channels with ModelBest’s proprietary MiniCPM series of edge-side foundation models. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The collaboration centers on two primary operational tracks: consumer electronics which are aimed at embedding personalized, on-device AI applications into smartphones, personal computers, smart home hardware; and connected vehicles—and enterprise solutions, which will deliver standardized vertical models and AI agent infrastructure for commercial clients.
Beyond co-developing products, the partners plan to conduct joint R&D on critical technical hurdles, including inference acceleration and the optimization of hybrid "cloud-trained, edge-deployed" model architectures designed to lower latency and operational costs.
China Telecom AI, the specialized artificial intelligence subsidiary of state-owned carrier China Telecom, intends to use the partnership to expand its Tianyi AI product suite into physical devices, leveraging ModelBest's lightweight foundation models to bridge cloud-side research with real-world deployment.
ModelBest executives noted that rising knowledge density and falling computing costs are making edge-side processing essential for converting everyday electronic hardware into active portals for physical AI. The strategic agreement marks a transition from initial project-based testing between the two companies toward long-term infrastructure integration across China's telecommunications network.
